How Do I Make an Offer on Mercari? (Step-by-Step 2025 Guide)

How Do I Make an Offer on Mercari? (Step-by-Step 2025 Guide)

Quick Answer:
To make an offer on Mercari, tap the “Make Offer” button on the item’s listing page, enter your desired price, and submit. The seller can accept, counter, or decline your offer. Buyers can negotiate once per listing, and offers remain valid for 24 hours. If accepted, the payment is processed immediately and the item is reserved for you.

Introduction: Why Making Offers on Mercari Is So Powerful

Mercari isn’t just a fixed-price marketplace — it’s also a negotiation platform where buyers can make offers on listings.

Whether you’re trying to get a better deal as a buyer or want to understand how to respond strategically as a seller, mastering Mercari’s offer system is essential.

This guide walks you through:

  • How to make an offer on Mercari step-by-step,

  • How the shipping and payment process works,

  • Common mistakes to avoid,

  • And how sellers can use offers to close deals faster.

How the Offer System Works on Mercari

Mercari allows buyers to negotiate prices directly with sellers on most listings. Unlike auction platforms, it’s a “best offer” system:

  • 💬 Buyer makes an offer.

  • 🧾 Seller accepts, counters, or declines.

  • ⏳ Offer is valid for 24 hours.

  • 🛍️ If accepted, payment processes automatically.

  • 📦 Seller ships according to their handling time.

This system:

  • Encourages faster sales,

  • Gives buyers flexibility,

  • And lets sellers control pricing strategy.

Automate this with Closo → Closo helps resellers manage offers, pricing, and listing performance across multiple marketplaces.

Step-by-Step: How to Make an Offer

Here’s the exact process to make an offer on Mercari, whether you’re on mobile or desktop.

📱 On Mobile (iOS/Android)

  1. Open the Mercari app.

  2. Find the item you want to purchase.

  3. Tap “Make Offer” under the “Buy Now” button.

  4. Enter your offer amount.

  5. Review and submit your offer.

✅ Once submitted, the offer will remain active for 24 hours or until the seller responds.

💻 On Desktop

  1. Visit mercari.com.

  2. Open the listing.

  3. Click “Make Offer” below the price.

  4. Type your offer and confirm.

📝 Note: You must have a valid payment method linked to your Mercari account to make offers.

What Happens After You Make an Offer

Once your offer is sent:

  • The seller receives a notification.

  • They can choose to accept, decline, or counter your offer.

  • If they accept, your payment is processed immediately, and the item is marked as sold.

  • If they counter, you can accept or decline their new price.

  • If they ignore it, the offer expires in 24 hours.

Seller Action Buyer Outcome
Accepts Payment processed; order confirmed
Declines Offer ends
Counters Buyer can accept or reject
Ignores Offer expires automatically after 24 hours

Tips for Making Successful Offers

Making an offer is easy — making a smart offer is what gets you deals.

Here are proven strategies to increase your chances of getting accepted:

1. Research Before Offering

  • Check similar listings to see typical pricing.

  • Use sold listings to gauge fair value.

  • If the item’s been listed for a while, sellers may be more flexible.

2. Offer a Reasonable Discount

Sellers are more likely to accept 10–20% below asking than lowball offers.

📝 Example: If an item is $100, offer $85 instead of $50 to stay credible.

3. Time Your Offers Strategically

  • Offers made on weekends or evenings have higher response rates.

  • Watch for price drops or “Likely to sell soon” tags.

4. Be Ready to Pay

If a seller accepts, the transaction happens immediately. Make sure:

  • Your payment method is valid,

  • Your shipping address is correct,

  • You actually want the item.

Automate this with Closo → Closo’s offer-tracking features can help resellers source inventory more effectively and respond faster.

How Does Mercari Shipping Work After an Offer?

Once your offer is accepted, the shipping process works exactly like a Buy Now transaction.

  • Seller receives your order and a shipping label.

  • They have a set handling time (usually 3 days).

  • They ship using Mercari’s USPS, UPS, or FedEx label.

  • Tracking updates automatically in the app.

  • Once the package arrives, you confirm delivery and rate the seller.

📦 Mercari Shipping Rates (2025)

Weight Tier USPS UPS FedEx
0–0.5 lb $4.87 $7.99 $8.25
0.5–3 lb $7.49 $9.95 $10.65
3–10 lb $10.95 $13.50 $13.90
10–20 lb $17.95 $21.95 $22.35
20–50 lb $35.00+ $40.00+ $42.00+

Buyers either pay shipping at checkout or get free shipping if the seller covers it.

How Much Does Mercari Charge to Sell

For sellers, accepting offers means slightly lower revenue, so it’s important to understand fees:

Fee Type Rate / Amount
Selling Fee 10%
Payment Processing Fee 2.9% + $0.30
Listing Fee $0
Shipping Buyer or seller pays

💡 Example:

  • Item sells for $80.

  • Fees ≈ $8 + $2.62 = $10.62.

  • Net payout ≈ $69.38.

Automate this with Closo → Closo can calculate fees and profit margins automatically, so you know exactly how much to offer or accept.

Offer Strategy for Resellers

If you’re using Mercari to source inventory, making strategic offers is one of the most effective ways to increase your profit margins.

🧭 1. Track Market Value

Know what the item sells for on Mercari, eBay, and Poshmark. Offer 20–30% below resale value to leave room for profit.

💸 2. Use Saved Searches

Set alerts for brands or categories you flip regularly. Make offers fast on underpriced listings.

⏳ 3. Build Seller Relationships

If a seller is offloading multiple items, a friendly message with a bulk offer can lead to better deals.

🔁 4. Stack Coupons & Offers

When possible, use referral coupons or promo credits to further reduce your sourcing cost.

📊 5. Crosslist & Automate

Use Closo to:

  • Instantly crosslist sourced inventory to other marketplaces,

  • Reprice automatically,

  • Track margins at scale.

FAQ

❓ How do I make an offer on Mercari?

Tap “Make Offer” on the item page, enter your price, and submit. The seller can accept, counter, or decline.

❓ How long does an offer last on Mercari?

24 hours. If the seller doesn’t respond, the offer expires automatically.

❓ Can I make multiple offers on the same item?

No. You can only make one active offer per listing.

❓ What happens if a seller accepts my offer?

The payment is processed immediately, and the item is reserved for you.

❓ Can sellers send offers to buyers?

Yes. Sellers can send private offers to likers to encourage purchases.

Cross-Links

🏁 Final Thoughts

Making offers on Mercari is one of the most effective ways to save money as a buyer and close more deals as a seller.

  • 💬 Buyers: Use reasonable, strategic offers to get the best price.

  • 🏪 Sellers: Understand fees and use counteroffers wisely to protect margins.

  • 📈 Resellers: Combine offers with smart sourcing, coupons, and automation to scale profitably.

With tools like Closo, you can automate pricing, track offers, and optimize your sourcing strategy — making Mercari an even more powerful resale platform.

👉 Don’t just make offers. Make smart offers that build your resale business.

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